# Washington University Neurosurgery Resident Research Education Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $417,291

## Abstract

Abstract
Young investigators are critical to maintaining the physician-scientist workforce, but keeping this pipeline robust
faces a myriad of challenges. These include expanding bureaucracy, greater clinical demands, diminishing
research time, rapid pace of advancement in basic science, and limited funding for research training. To create
a more seamless pipeline for physician-scientist training in Neurosurgery and Neurology at Washington
University School of Medicine (WUSM), we have established this Research Education Program that aims to train
and develop the future generation of neurosurgeon- and neurologist-scientists essential for future advances in
basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience.
The structure of the Research Education Program proposed in this renewal application builds upon the strengths
and successes of our original program, but changes it in one fundamental way – the program is now expanded
to include both neurosurgery and neurology faculty and trainees. In the first iteration of our program, we focused
solely on preparing neurosurgeon-scientists for independent investigative careers. In the current application, we
now propose to prepare both neurosurgeon- and neurologist-scientists for investigative careers by enlisting full
participation and leadership from the Department of Neurology at WUSM. What has not changed is the
overarching goal of the WUSM Resident Education Program: to recruit and prepare the next generation of
physician-neuroscientists so that they successfully compete for the best junior faculty positions in the country,
secure extramural career development funding including K series grants from the NIH, and ultimately become
highly successful physician-scientists.
The Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology at WUSM provide an excellent institutional environment for
basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience research and education. Both departments have long and
distinguished track records of training academic physician-neuroscientists spanning many decades. This
success has been particularly strong over the past 10 years. In Neurosurgery, over 70% of graduates have
entered academic practice and nearly 20% of graduates have become successful NIH-funded neurosurgeon-
scientists. In Neurology, 66% of graduates have taken positions at academic medical centers, and 30% have
received independent fellowship grants, K awards, and/or R01 grants. The proposed Neurosurgery and
Neurology Research Education Program leverages our past educational experiences and the strong
neuroscience community at WUSM in order to develop an enhanced and distinct research training pipeline,
specifically for neurosurgeons and neurologists interested in academic careers as independent researchers, with
the overall long-term goal of ensuring that highly-trained physician-scientists will be available to make future
advances to reduce the burden of neurological diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9853416
- **Project number:** 2R25NS090978-06
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** GREGORY J ZIPFEL
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $417,291
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2015-09-30 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9853416

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9853416, Washington University Neurosurgery Resident Research Education Program (2R25NS090978-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9853416. Licensed CC0.

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